WASHINGTON President Donald Trump disclosed highly classified information to Russia’s foreign minister about a planned Islamic State operation, two U.S. officials said on Monday, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trump …

This handout photo released by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shows President Donald Trump meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The Washington …

It was shaping up to be a quiet Monday, OnPolitics peeps. And then this happened: The Washington Post broke a major story about President Trump reportedly revealing CLASSIFIED INFORMATION to the RUSSIANS. The White House, of course, is denying …

As the White House was engulfed by a crisis of its own making — the abrupt firing of the FBI director — President Trump received an unlikely visitor: Henry Kissinger, the Republican Party’s leading elder statesman, who came to deliver a tutorial on …

Vladmir Putin, in quest of easy secrets, sets his golfers and flatterers on to Donald Trump

Vladimir Putin has ordered his leading US-based intelligence operatives to rush to Greg Norman outfitters’ outlets and to make permanent reservations at the Mar-a-Lago restaurant in Florida.

“Forget all the skulking and working confidential sources and organising dead-drops and writing in invisible ink and playing Mata Hari,” Putin commanded. “We’ll never have to pay another ruble to traitors.

Trump reveals secrets to Russia: Officials

President Donald Trump disclosed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister during their meeting last week, two US officials with knowledge of the situation say.

“All we have to do is get tight with glupyy* Donald.

“Golf, glitz and gluttony are the key.

“Flatter him, tell him his tee-shot is the best, and when you’re dining at his Lago place, catch his eye, tell him his daughter really has the tightest glutes and whisper a suggestion about what might happen to Alex Baldwin if he tried his rubbish on Moscow’s Saturday night TV. Make it graphic. Entrails.

“He’ll be all over you like a special escort at the Hotel Ritz Carlton at Red Square.”

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Mr Putin’s order to drop old-style fieldcraft in favour of recreational socialising at the top follows the revelation that Donald Trump merrily revealed highly classified information, including jeopardising a critical source relating to ISIS, during a meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister and the Russian Ambassador.

“Imagine,” said Putin, setting down a 200 kilogram barbell he’d been using for bicep curls. “He just invited them into the White House and spilled the corn.”

“Beans, your Fabulousness,” offered a nervous aide.

“Thank you. Now remove yourself to the cellar at the Lubyanka, you weeping sore,” snapped Putin.

“All that effort by our cyber patriots, our hacker army, our friends in WikiLeaks. Our extremely special services at the Ritz. Our infiltrations and helpful business deals with friends of friends.

The right-wing media teaches us how to downplay a scandal.

Just after 5 pm on Monday, the Washington Post released a bombshell report alleging that President Donald Trump shared an ally’s “highly classified” information with Russian officials at the White House last week. By 6 pm, Fox News had assembled an “all-star panel” to run the Post’s story through the wringer of right-wing skepticism.

Intentionally or not, it became a master class on political spin.

Cable news has made a business and a spectacle out of our cognitive biases. There’s a popular theory among psychologists that humans developed powers of reasoning not in order to pursue truth, but to win arguments. That’s one explanation for why our minds so naturally leap to deny information we find disagreeable: We aren’t really wired to be objective in the first place.

So whenever big news breaks, and all the talking heads are summoned to spar and swap hunches, the television turns into a real-time window on how people make sense — or nonsense — out of reality.

For those looking for tips on dealing with bad press, here were the three main strategies on display:

1) Magnify doubts about the story

Asked for his “instant reaction,” Fox News’s Brit Hume defaulted to skepticism of the story and its accuracy: “There may be something to it, but remember it is based entirely on anonymous sources,” he said.

This was a theme that dominated Fox News’s coverage of the scandal. How much was the story to be believed if the sources were secret? How are we supposed to take the Washington Post at its word?

Early in the evening, before the New York Times came out with its own confirmation, analysts on rival news networks like CNN and MSNBC also cautioned viewers that the Post’s report hadn’t been yet been widely confirmed. But only on Fox News did people repeatedly speculate about reasons to doubt the Post’s sourcing.

Laura Ingraham suggested that the people who leaked the story were Obama loyalists seeking to stir up drama. “I have a feeling it’s the Obama folks and this is more troublemaking,” she said.

The host, Washington correspondent James Rosen, piled on with leading questions. He asked Juan Williams: “Is it possible, Juan, that what we have might be a case where people in the intelligence community opposed to Donald Trump are being tendentious and leaking something to the Washington Post that doesn’t quite check out?”

Williams nodded. “When you come to intelligence, we are in a forest of mirrors, a wilderness of mirrors,” he replied.

2) Argue that this isn’t a big deal anyway

Another way to minimize a damaging news story is to downplay it. A common talking point Monday night on Fox News was that, even if Trump had divulged classified information to the Russians, he technically hadn’t broken any laws.

“I don’t think anyone is talking about illegalities,” said conservative Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer. “The president has the power to declassify anything, anytime he wants.”

On CNN, Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr was explaining to readers why the Post’s allegations were so grave: By sharing an ally’s classified information with the Russians, “you could put people and assets at risk overseas — that’s the reason you don’t do this,” she said to Wolf Blitzer.

But meanwhile on Fox News, Krauthammer was telling viewers the opposite. He reckoned that, if anything, Trump had made an innocent mistake — a “slip up” — and that America’s compromised ally would quickly forgive the president. “It’s like a three-day story if it’s true,” Krauthammer said. “I don’t think there’s a lot in here. This is the president slipping on a banana peel.”

“We are acting like we’re on the eve of World War III with this story tonight,” added Laura Ingraham. “I think this is part of why people are tuning out.”

Fox News then played an old clip of Trump complaining about Hillary Clinton’s email servers, which contained classified information that could have been obtained by hackers. It was a strange, Rashomon moment. As liberals on Twitter were calling Trump a hypocrite for himself volunteering state secrets to Russia, the Fox News host spoke as if it were self-evident that Clinton had made the graver intelligence error.

“Being somewhat sloppy, allegedly” with classified information is “obviously a different proposition than maintaining a private homemade server in your basement when you’re the secretary of state for four years,” Rosen commented dryly.

3) Obfuscate, obfuscate, obfuscate

Finally, a trick that always works is to distract and confuse.

Fox News’s James Rosen, for instance, suggested that the Washington Post was the real problem here. “Isn’t it possible or conceivable that the publication of the article could do a lot more to enhance the Russians’ understanding of this breach than they enjoyed up until now?” he asked, in a bald-faced attempt to blame the messenger.

By 7:30, Fox News had more or less had enough of the Trump story. It turned to a segment on a fraternity hazing death, and then called up two talking heads to discuss free speech on college campuses, as archival footage of a February 1 student riot at the University of California Berkeley played onscreen.

Tucker Carlson’s show at 8 pm devoted roughly five minutes to the Post’s story before returning to its regularly scheduled lineup:

a tirade against liberal bias in the media (chyron: “Hate distorts view of reality”)

a discussion of how liberals stifle free speech at college (chyron: “Liberals melting down and turning violent”)

and a segment on the “RompHim,” a romper for men. (Carlson: “So it’s a onesie for men?” Guest: “A short onesie for men — I think that’s a key distinction.”)

Anderson Cooper’s 8 pm CNN show, in contrast, stayed on the Trump leak story for the entire hour — recognizing that this by far was the biggest story of the day. (The chyron throughout the show: “Wash Post: Trump shared highly classified info with Russians.”)

More extreme outlets like Breitbart went a step further and tried to spread rumors and misinformation, alleging that agents of the “deep state” (an object of paranoia among the alt-right) had leaked this information to “smear” the president. While the New York Times and BuzzFeed rushed out to independently confirm the Post’s reporting, the Daily Caller, Tucker Carlson’s right-wing website, focused its attention on trumpeting the denials coming from the White House.

The White House press shop, by the way, might learn something from these right-wing outlets. Last night in response to the Post story, the administration sent out Trump’s national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, to issue a terse, calibrated statement that, as many have pointed out, did nothing to address the actual allegations being made against the president. Mainstream outlets took the statement as a tacit admission that the president had indeed done something wrong.

A more shameless spin master might have emulated Fox News’s Jesse Waters, who last night was a fount of misdirection: “Maybe the Russians were the leakers! Trying to make Trump look bad,” he said.

“No, Trump could have been the leaker! By pivoting the story away from Comey,” joked Greg Gutfeld.

“I seriously doubt he’d want to add more Russia to the mix,” said Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is rumored to be a replacement candidate for current White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

President Trump is responding to the backlash against the allegations that he shared “highly classified” information with the Russians by saying he had “the absolute right to do” so. He tweeted this morning: As President I wanted to share with Russia …

Donald Trump has once again found himself at the centre of a storm – this time for reportedly sharing “codeword classified” information with the Russian ambassador. The information, which related to the use of laptops on aircraft, is understood to have …

Donald Trump Jeff Sessions President Donald Trump before speaking at the 36th Annual National Peace Officers’ memorial service Monday in Washington. AP Photo/Evan Vucci. President Donald Trump has appeared to confirm a Washington Post report …

President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning claimed he has “the absolute right” to share intelligence with the Russian government, while doing little to deny that he allegedly divulged highly classified information to a foreign adversary during an Oval …

Just after 5 pm on Monday, the Washington Post released a bombshell report alleging that President Donald Trump shared an ally’s “highly classified” information with Russian officials at the White House last week. By 6 pm, Fox News had assembled an …

US President Donald Trump handed over secret data to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak during the visit of the Russian delegation to Washington, reports The Washington Post.

The information concerned Islamic State (ISIL) terrorist organisation (banned in Russia). Thus, President Trump jeopardised the source in the United States that had provided information to the US administration about the terrorists.

The US administration obtained the information through a secret data exchange mechanism. Messages in the mechanism are only available to a limited number of people in US power structures, not to mention the fact that the US does not disclose any information from the source to its allies. However, Trump has decided to break the tradition, without receiving permission from the source.

It was reported that US officials took urgent measures to curb the damage by contacting the CIA and the National Security Agency.

Later, however, the US refuted the transfer of secret information to Lavrov. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that President Trump discussed only the nature of specific threats with Lavrov.

During his visit to Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conveyed a message from Russian President Putin to US President Trump. The Kremlin confirmed the information adding that the contacts between the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the US president were carried out during the conversation that took place between the leaders of the two states. No further details were revealed.

UPDATE: Officials spokesperson for the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, said that the above-mentioned article in The Washington Post about the exchange of secret information between Putin and Trump was fake news that deserves no attention.

This handout photo released by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shows President Donald Trump meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The Washington Post is reporting that Trump revealed highly classified information about Islamic State militants to Russian officials during a meeting at the White House last week. The newspaper cites current and former U.S. officials who say Trump jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on IS in his conversations with the Russian foreign minister and the Russian ambassador to the U.S. They say Trump offered details about an IS terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft.(Russian Foreign Ministry via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — For months, U.S. allies have anxiously wondered if President Donald Trump could be trusted with some of the world’s most sensitive national security secrets.

Now, just a few days before Trump’s debut on the international stage, he’s giving allies new reasons to worry. A U.S. official said Trump revealed highly classified information about an Islamic State plot to senior Russian officials during an Oval Office meeting last week. The information had been obtained by a U.S. partner and shared with Washington, according to the official.

“If it proves to be true that the American president passed on internal intelligence matters, that would be highly worrying,” Burkhard Lischka, a senior German lawmaker, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

A second European official told the AP that their country might stop sharing intelligence with the United States as a result of Trump’s disclosure to Russia.

The revelations — which Trump appeared to verify in a pair of tweets Tuesday morning — are sure to shadow the president as he embarks Friday on his first overseas trip as president. After high-stakes visits to Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican, he’ll meet some of Washington’s strongest European partners at a NATO summit in Brussels and the Group of 7 meeting in Sicily. Some of the leaders he’ll meet come from countries the U.S. has intelligence-sharing agreements with.

Sen. John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, said Trump actions send “a troubling signal to America’s allies and partners around the world and may impair their willingness to share intelligence with us in the future.”

Trump has a contentious relationship with American spy agencies. He’s questioned the competence of intelligence officials, challenged their assessment that Russia meddled in last year’s election to help him win, and accused them of leaking information about him and his associates.

The leaks have only continued to flow.

According to the U.S. official, Trump shared details with top Russian officials about an Islamic State terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft. The Washington Post first reported the disclosure.

White House officials disputed the report, saying Trump did not disclose intelligence sources or methods with the Russians, though they did not deny that classified information was disclosed in the May 10 meeting. And by Tuesday morning, Trump was justifying his actions, writing on Twitter that he had an “absolute right” to share the information about “terrorism and airline flight safety” with Russia.”

The U.S. and Western officials spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive information.

The White House has looked to Trump’s trip abroad as a moment to draw the president out of Washington’s hyper-partisan hothouse and put him in a more statesman-like setting. He’s expected to be warmly received by Arab allies in Saudi Arabia, who welcomed his decision to launch missiles against a Syrian air base following a chemical weapons attack, and in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views Trump as more favorable to his interests than former President Barack Obama.

But some of the European partners Trump will meet later in his trip have been more skeptical about his policies, including a controversial travel and immigration ban that’s been blocked by U.S. courts. Western allies, including Britain and Germany, have also been wary of Trump’s warmness toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was kicked out of the summit of leading economic powers after Moscow’s annexation of territory from Ukraine.

The White House’s botched handling of Trump’s firing last week of FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing the bureau’s Russia probe, and the president’s own volatile statements about his actions are also likely to raise questions among allies about the U.S. leader’s standing.

Anthony Cordesman, a national security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said allies will be trying to size up Trump’s “actual political strength relative to the divisions with Congress, the problems within his own party.”

“Can he move forward with his own agenda? That will certainly be a question as he visits any country overseas,” Cordesman said.

___

Editor’s Note: Julie Pace has covered the White House and politics for The Associated Press since 2007. Follow her at <a href=”http://twitter.com/jpaceDC” rel=”nofollow”>http://twitter.com/jpaceDC</a>

President Donald Trump was informed that he had broken protocol. | Getty

By Associated Press

A senior European intelligence official told the Associated Press that his country might stop sharing information with the United States if it confirms that President Donald Trump shared classified details with Russian officials.

Such sharing “could be a risk for our sources,” the official said.

Story Continued Below

The official spoke only on condition that neither he nor his country be identified, because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

At the White House, Trump said in his tweets, “I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining … to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.”

Trump shared details about an Islamic State terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak, a senior U.S official told AP. The classified information had been shared with the president by an ally, violating the confidentiality of an intelligence-sharing agreement with that country, the official said.

Trump later was informed that he had broken protocol and White House officials placed calls to the National Security Agency and the CIA looking to minimize any damage.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly, would not say which country’s intelligence was divulged.

The disclosure put a source of intelligence on the Islamic State at risk, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the disclosure on Monday.

The CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have declined to comment.

President Trump is responding to the backlash against the allegations that he shared “highly classified” information with the Russians by saying he had “the absolute right to do” so. He tweeted this morning: As President I wanted to share with Russia …

US President Donald Trump has defended his “absolute right” to share information with Russia, following a row over classified material. Mr Trump tweeted that he had shared “facts pertaining to terrorism and airline safety” and wanted Russia to do more …

Donald Trump has once again found himself at the centre of a storm – this time for reportedly sharing “codeword classified” information with the Russian ambassador. The information, which related to the use of laptops on aircraft, is understood to have …

Donald Trump Jeff Sessions President Donald Trump before speaking at the 36th Annual National Peace Officers’ memorial service Monday in Washington. AP Photo/Evan Vucci. President Donald Trump has appeared to confirm a Washington Post report …

WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended having disclosed information to senior Russian officials last week, saying he had an “absolute right” to do so and had shared facts to get Moscow to step up its fight against the Islamic State …

Donald Trump has once again found himself at the centre of a storm – this time for reportedly sharing “codeword classified” information with the Russian ambassador. The information, which related to the use of laptops on aircraft, is understood to have …

Donald Trump Jeff Sessions President Donald Trump before speaking at the 36th Annual National Peace Officers’ memorial service Monday in Washington. AP Photo/Evan Vucci. President Donald Trump has appeared to confirm a Washington Post report …

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed the authority to share “facts pertaining to terrorism” and airline safety with Russia, saying in a pair of tweets he has “an absolute right” as president to do so. Trump’s tweets did not say …

President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning claimed he has “the absolute right” to share intelligence with the Russian government, while doing little to deny that he allegedly divulged highly classified information to a foreign adversary during an Oval …

Donald Trump has once again found himself at the centre of a storm – this time for reportedly sharing “codeword classified” information with the Russian ambassador. The information, which related to the use of laptops on aircraft, is understood to have …

Donald Trump Jeff Sessions President Donald Trump before speaking at the 36th Annual National Peace Officers’ memorial service Monday in Washington. AP Photo/Evan Vucci. President Donald Trump has appeared to confirm a Washington Post report …

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed the authority to share “facts pertaining to terrorism” and airline safety with Russia, saying in a pair of tweets he has “an absolute right” as president to do so. Trump’s tweets did not say …

President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning claimed he has “the absolute right” to share intelligence with the Russian government, while doing little to deny that he allegedly divulged highly classified information to a foreign adversary during an Oval …

Donald Trump has once again found himself at the centre of a storm – this time for reportedly sharing “codeword classified” information with the Russian ambassador.

The information, which related to the use of laptops on aircraft, is understood to have been passed to the Americans by an ally who had apparently chosen not to share it with Moscow.

It was marked “codeword classified”, and was highly sensitive.

Mr Trump has now said he “had the absolute right” to tell the Russians “acts pertaining to terrorism and airline safety”.

So what are the rules around confidential information, and does he really have the right?

What is classification?

According to an executive order signed by Barack Obama in 2009, something is considered classified if “the national defence has required that certain information be maintained in confidence in order to protect our citizens, our democratic institutions, our homeland security, and our interactions with foreign nations”.

Once it is classified, the sharing of that material could lead to prosecution. However, there is no law against it.

What do the different levels of classification mean?

There are three different levels of classification

Top secret is the highest level, and is information the government believes could “reasonably… be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security”. According to The Economist, about 1.4 million people have access to these documents.

Secret is for information which could “reasonably… be expected to cause serious damage”.

Confidential applies to information which could simply “cause damage to the national security”. Most military personnel have this level of clearance.

However, there is also a way to add a second level of clearance to top secret. It is administered by the CIA, and allows only those with the codeword access to the information. The material discussed by Mr Trump with the Russians was under a codeword, sources told the Washington Post.

These classifications are given by either the US president, vice-president, but more usually the heads of the various intelligence agencies.

How do things get ‘declassified’?

When the classification is set, a timescale for declassification is set. In some cases, it may be an event which will signal that the information can now be made public, in others an actual date. If neither of these things are obvious, it will be automatically set for 10 years’ time. However, it could also be kept classified for 25 years.

Importantly, no information should be classified indefinitely.

Is there a presidential loophole?

In short, yes.

Declassification before the agreed time – or even just downgrading its classification level – is a decision for the person who originally gave the information that level of security, their successor or supervisor. The Director of National Intelligence can downgrade or declassify an item, after consultation with the relevant heads of department.

However, the rules for classification are considered part of the president’s constitutional powers – so if he wants to declassify something, he can, according to the New York Times.

Steven Aftergood, a government secrecy specialist with the Federation of American Scientists, explained to the newspaper: “It is an expression of presidential authority, and that means that the president and his designees decide what is classified, and they have the essentially unlimited authority to declassify at will.

“The president defines the terms of the security clearance system and the parameters that determine who may be given access to classified information.”

What would happen if anyone else shared confidential information?

In theory, they would lose their security clearance, or even end up in prison, prosecuted under the espionage laws. Edward Snowden leaked top secret information, and ended up seeking asylum in Russia in order to avoid prosecution.

But it seems there is no hard and fast rule: American news site The Hill pointed out last year that the punishments seemed to vary based on who you were, not the information you leaked.

What does this mean for intelligence sharing in the future?

If Mr Trump has shared highly sensitive information, he has broken a “golden rule”, the BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner has said.

“There is a golden rule in the world of espionage that when one government supplies intelligence to another it must not be passed on to a third party without permission of the original supplier,” he said.

“The reason is simple: it could put the lives of their human informants at risk.”

But will this make US allies think twice about sharing information with their American counterparts?

Potentially not. Some in the international community have already sought to play down the implications of what Mr Trump may or may not have done.

New Zealand’s foreign affairs minister Gerry Brownlee said Russia and the US needed to work closely together, and cited the Trump administration’s denial of the story.

MOSCOW, May 16. /TASS/. The Washington Post’s report saying that US President Donald Trump had revealed classified information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their White House meeting is part of the political pressure that the Trump administration has been facing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

“It is part of the campaign which began before the US presidential election and has been going on since then,” she said in an interview with the Russian Kommersant FM radio station. “This is another attempt to exert pressure on the new US administration and make deals related to various political appointments and lobbying. We can’t even say now that the media are biased because they are openly fulfilling a political order,” the Russian diplomat added.

According to Zakharova, the Washington Post did not provide evidence to back up allegations about some classified information revelation. “The article mentions no evidence, it is based on information received from some sources. Actually, there is a typical pattern concerning the way that such articles come out and the response that they get,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman pointed out.

The Washington Post said earlier that “President Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in a White House meeting last week, according to current and former US officials, who said Trump’s disclosures jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State.”

The highly classified intelligence is believed to pertain to Jordan, a critical U.S. ally who has been at the forefront of fighting the Islamic State, and the use of laptop computers to bomb airplanes. It was given up during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian ambassador in the Oval Office last week, current and former American government officials told the Washington Post. It seems that Trump spontaneously blurted out, “I get great intel. I have people brief me on great intel every day,” without taking into account moves to increase U.S. leverage against the Russians, who hold opposing interests in the war in Syria.

“Some within the [Israeli] government are very concerned by the signs coming out from Washington: that there’s not exactly a shift in regards to Israel and the region, but there are certainly unexpected signs which are very different from what we expected” from Trump the candidate, said Oded Eran, a former Israeli ambassador to Jordan and fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. He said that Israel still sees the U.S. as a critical security ally with which it pursues cooperation, but that it has also been developing security agreements with India and other Asian countries.

Trump is scheduled to speak with King Abdullah of Jordan on Tuesday, spurring speculation that the classified information, which was so sensitive that it was not widely shared with American officials or with other allies, belonged to the Jordanians.

Since Trump took office in January, Israeli intelligence officials have been re-assessing their intelligence sharing strategies, worried that any information passed on to Trump could be leaked to Russia and onward to Iran, which backs its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah said earlier this month that Damascus, Moscow, Tehran and Hezbollah were “in more harmony politically and militarily than at any time.”

In closed-door meetings, American intelligence officials “warned” their Israeli counterparts about sharing classified information to Trump, given the president’s suspicious relationship with Russia, according to a report by Ronen Bergman in the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot.

“American officials have said that they believe the Kremlin to have ‘leverages of pressure’ over Trump,” wrote Bergman, who added that U.S.-Israel intelligence cooperation has been increasing over the past decade, targeting Iran and, in some cases, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

“If Israel’s secrets are not secure in the hands of the American spy agencies, that would cause a very serious danger to the security of the state of Israel,” he wrote.

Constitutional law scholar Alan Dershowitz said in an interview on MSNBC that Trump did not break the law in revealing the information to the Russians, since the president is authorized to declassify government secrets as he sees fit, and so the allegations would not be grounds for impeachment. But if the Washington Post report is confirmed, the act would be even more serious than the crimes usually under debate in discussions of impeachment, he said.

Trump’s leak to the Russians “could compromise sources and methods and also result in a cutoff of information from American allies to the United States, as the result of which we would all suffer and be in danger,” said Dershowitz.

The White House press team has not answered any questions regarding the revelation, besides saying that “this story is false. The president only discussed the common threats that both countries faced,” Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell said on Monday night in an official statement.

The latest chapter in the Russia saga comes as Trump faces rising pressure on the question of his campaign’s possible collusion with the Russian government. Trump’s abrupt dismissal of FBI director James Comey has not halted the FBI investigation into the issue, which the issuing of grand jury subpoenas indicate is charging forward into the next, more serious phases. The Washington Post or other news organizations may also release further details, which are being withheld on the request of officials who said that their secrecy was needed to protect American intelligence capabilities.

The dramatic is also overshadowing Trump’s first international visit to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Vatican.

In Israel, chaos is already reigning, after a U.S. official on Monday told his Israeli counterparts that the Western Wall, a holy site in Jerusalem, is “not your territory.” Trump’s Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, who landed in Israel on Monday, has reportedly advised the Israelis to “refrain from getting into confrontations with the president and to help him implement his Middle Eastern policies.”

Click through to see previous Trump Today items and updates on the president’s actions so far.

Click through to see previous Trump Today items and updates on the president’s actions so far.

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APRIL 6, 2017: Nunes steps aside from House probe into Russia tiesRep. Devin Nunes, under attack from Democrats for his handling of the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into possible ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016, said on Thursday, April 6 that he was temporarily stepping aside from heading the panel’s probe. The Tulare Republican said in a statement that he was standing down while the House Ethics Committee looks into complaints filed against him by “several left-wing activist groups.” Those groups allege that Nunes broke federal law and House ethics rules by disclosing classified information about the possibility that U.S. intelligence agencies “incidentally” monitored Trump transition team members after the election. MORE HERE less

APRIL 6, 2017: Nunes steps aside from House probe into Russia tiesRep. Devin Nunes, under attack from Democrats for his handling of the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into possible ties between … more

Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM, AFP/Getty Images

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MARCH 31, 2017: Flynn seeks immunity, Trump blames Dems and mediaPresident Trump lashed out at Democrats and the media in a tweet Friday, March 31, blaming them for a “witch hunt” that’s pushed his former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn to seek immunity in exchange for interviewing with House and Senate investigators on the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia. “Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!” Trump tweeted. MORE HERE less

MARCH 31, 2017: Flynn seeks immunity, Trump blames Dems and mediaPresident Trump lashed out at Democrats and the media in a tweet Friday, March 31, blaming them for a “witch hunt” that’s pushed his former … more

Photo: Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press

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MARCH 23, 2017: Wiener calls president a ‘Manchurian candidate’ on Senate floorA San Francisco lawmaker’s claim that President Trump is a “Manchurian candidate” set off a heated partisan debate Thursday, March 23 on the floor of the California Senate. “This is an issue about the integrity of our government,” said Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who made the reference to the 1959 novel “The Manchurian Candidate” to say that Trump is a puppet of the Russian government. Republican state Senators said Democrats need to “move on” instead of continuing to attack the president. “Manchurian candidate? Folks that’s way over the top,” said Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber (Tehama County). “If we want to have heated rhetoric and diminish the collegiality in this house, then let’s just keep up this almost daily and weekly tirade against the president.” MORE HERE less

MARCH 23, 2017: Wiener calls president a ‘Manchurian candidate’ on Senate floorA San Francisco lawmaker’s claim that President Trump is a “Manchurian candidate” set off a heated partisan debate … more

Photo: Chris Kaufman, Special To The Chronicle

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MARCH 20, 2017: FBI Director debunks president’s wiretapping claimsOn Monday, March 20, FBI Director James Comey debunked assertions on Twitter by President Trump that President Obama wiretapped him at his residence at Trump Tower before the election. While testifying before the House Intelligence Committee, Comey said, “I have no information that supports those tweets and we have looked carefully inside the FBI.” Comey added that the Department of Justice “has no information that supports those tweets.” Comey was referring to Trump’s March 4 tweet saying, “Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!” MORE HERE less

MARCH 20, 2017: FBI Director debunks president’s wiretapping claimsOn Monday, March 20, FBI Director James Comey debunked assertions on Twitter by President Trump that President Obama wiretapped him at his … more

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press

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MARCH 16, 2017: President issues disaster declaration for California

President Trump issued a major disaster declaration Thursday, March 16 that will trigger federal funding for California following an estimated $113 million in damage from late January storms in the state. Gov. Jerry Brown sought the presidential disaster declaration, marking the third granted by the president in just over a month. Trump previously approved Brown’s request for aid for the Oroville Dam spillway damage and mass evacuations and to help the state deal with the widespread effects storms in early January. MORE HERE

MARCH 15, 2017: President no fan of Snoop Dogg’s new videoPresident Trump took to Twitter Wednesday, March 15 to pan Snoop Dogg’s latest music video, which depicts the West Coast rapper shooting a prank gun at a clown resembling Trump. Trump took time to criticize Snoop between a tweet calling NBC News “Fake news” for MSNBC revealing two pages of his 2005 income tax returns, and another tweet about revitalizing car production in Detroit. Trump tweeted: “Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @SnoopDogg , failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama? Jail time!” The video in question is for the song “Lavendar,” a collaboration between Snoop Dogg and the Canadian group BADBADNOTGOOD, which denounces officer-involved shootings. MORE HERE less

MARCH 15, 2017: President no fan of Snoop Dogg’s new videoPresident Trump took to Twitter Wednesday, March 15 to pan Snoop Dogg’s latest music video, which depicts the West Coast rapper shooting a prank gun … more

MARCH 8, 2017: Former Utah governor, Bay Area native tapped for Russian ambassadorFormer Utah Gov. and onetime Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. is being vetted for the job of U.S. ambassador to Russia, according to media reports. The former ambassador to China and Singapore, and native of the Bay Area, was critical of President Trump in last year’s campaign, even calling for the businessman’s withdrawal, but he still won Trump’s nomination for the post. Huntsman, 56, was officially offered the position earlier this week, Politico reported Wednesday, and is in the process of submitting paperwork to take the job. MORE HERE less

MARCH 8, 2017: Former Utah governor, Bay Area native tapped for Russian ambassadorFormer Utah Gov. and onetime Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. is being vetted for the job of U.S. ambassador … more

MARCH 7, 2017: President tweets at Fox and Friends, blames ObamaPresident Trump spent part of his morning firing off a wide-ranging barrage of tweets — many attacking former President Barack Obama — while apparently watching his favorite cable news talk show Fox and Friends. As he’s prone to do in his spur-of-the-moment tweeting, the president ignored some basic facts while taking shots at his predecessor and the media. Trump also referenced the “wonderful” plan to repeal and replace Obama’s signature health care legislation introduced Monday, March 6 by Congressional Republicans. MORE HERE less

MARCH 7, 2017: President tweets at Fox and Friends, blames ObamaPresident Trump spent part of his morning firing off a wide-ranging barrage of tweets — many attacking former President Barack Obama — while … more

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MARCH 6, 2017: Carson refers to slaves as ‘immigrants’

In his first remarks to his staff Monday, March 6, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson referred to slaves trafficked across the Atlantic to the United States as “immigrants.” Carson’s comments were delivered as he outlined his vision for housing policy that would play “no favorites” when it comes to public assistance, The Washington Post reported. In describing America as that “land of dreams and opportunity,” Carson made the parallel between slaves and immigrants, video of the speech shows. “There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less,” Carson said. “But they, too, had a dream that one day their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons, great-granddaughters, might pursue prosperity and happiness in this land.” MORE HERE

MARCH 6, 2017: President signs revised travel orderPresident Trump signed a revised travel order Monday, March 6 morning behind closed doors in the Oval Office that takes Iraq off the list of countries whose citizens are banned from entering the United States for 90 days. People from Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Libya — with one notable exception, Iraq — will be banned from entering the U.S. for the next 90 days unless they already have a valid visa. Iraq was removed from the list of banned countries after the government reached an agreement with the Trump administration to cooperate with the U.S. government on the vetting of its citizens. MORE HERE less

MARCH 6, 2017: President signs revised travel orderPresident Trump signed a revised travel order Monday, March 6 morning behind closed doors in the Oval Office that takes Iraq off the list of countries whose … more

Photo: MANDEL NGAN, Staff / AFP/Getty Images

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MARCH 6, 2017: SCOTUS passes on transgender bathroom caseThe U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday, March 6 that it would not hear a Virginia transgender student’s case to use the boys’ bathroom in school — kicking it back to a lower court to come up with an analysis and an opinion on the case. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a lower court in Richmond, Virginia, will instead make a ruling in the title IX case and determine how it applies to transgender students. The decision comes after President Trump reversed a federal directive enacted by former President Barack Obama that included bathroom rights for transgender students under title IX and advised schools to allow students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. Since the reversal, no appeals court has conducted an analysis of how title IX will impact transgender students. MORE HERE less

MARCH 6, 2017: SCOTUS passes on transgender bathroom caseThe U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday, March 6 that it would not hear a Virginia transgender student’s case to use the boys’ bathroom in school — … more

Photo: Jose Luis Magana, FRE

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MARCH 3, 2017: 3rd time’s a charm for Trump to spell ‘hereby’ rightHear by. Hearby. Hereby. The third time was the charm for President Trump on Twitter Friday, March 3, as he took three tweets over a span of 15 minutes to land on the correct spelling of “hereby” in calling for an investigation of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for her own meeting with the Russian ambassador to the United States. MORE HERE less

MARCH 3, 2017: 3rd time’s a charm for Trump to spell ‘hereby’ rightHear by. Hearby. Hereby. The third time was the charm for President Trump on Twitter Friday, March 3, as he took three tweets over a … more

Photo: Alex Brandon

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MARCH 3, 2017: Schwarzenegger bows out of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’President Trump’s prayers weren’t answered. Or maybe they were. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Friday, March 3 that he will terminate himself from hosting “Celebrity Apprentice.” The one-time Mr. Universe bodybuilder said the “baggage” resulting from Trump’s ascendance from the boardroom to the White House was too heavy for him to lift the show out of a slump. Schwarzenegger’s decision came a month after Trump asked attendees at the National Prayer Breakfast to pray for the “Terminator” star amid low ratings. MORE HERE less

MARCH 3, 2017: Schwarzenegger bows out of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’President Trump’s prayers weren’t answered. Or maybe they were. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Friday, March 3 … more

Photo: Jordan Strauss

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MARCH 3, 2017: President praises book slamming Obama on immigration

President Trump praised merit-based immigration Friday, March 3 as he endorsed an Australian author’s latest book, which criticizes the immigration system under the Obama administration. The president tweeted Friday morning, “Nick Adams new book, Green Card Warrior, is a must read. The merit-based system is the way to go. Canada, Australia! @foxandfriends ” In Adams’ book, subtitled My Quest for Legal Immigration in an Illegals’ System, he outlines his efforts to obtain a green card in what he called “the enormous difficulty of legal immigration with the red-carpet welcome of illegal immigration.” MORE HERE less

MARCH 3, 2017: President praises book slamming Obama on immigration

President Trump praised merit-based immigration Friday, March 3 as he endorsed an Australian author’s latest book, which criticizes the … more

Photo: Evan Vucci /Associated Press

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MARCH 2, 2017: Sessions recuses himself from Russia investigationsFacing growing criticism following revelations that he did not disclose speaking with on two occasions Russia’s ambassador to the United States, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Thursday, March 2 that he would recuse himself from any investigations related to the 2016 campaign. That includes federal investigations into Russian interference with the U.S. presidential election. The Washington Post first reported that Sessions had twice met with Sergey Kislyak, Russia’s U.S. ambassador. “Let me be clear,” Sessions told reporters at an afternoon news conference. “I never had meetings with Russian operatives or Russian intermediaries about the Trump campaign.” MORE HERE less

MARCH 2, 2017: Sessions recuses himself from Russia investigationsFacing growing criticism following revelations that he did not disclose speaking with on two occasions Russia’s ambassador to the United … more

Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM, AFP/Getty Images

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MARCH 2, 2017: Sessions calls Russian contact claims ‘false’U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired back Thursday, March 2, calling reports that he spoke with Russia’s ambassador to the United States twice during the presidential elections about campaign issues “unbelievable” and “false.” Officials from the Justice Department told The Washington Post that Sessions did not disclose his encounters with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak from September in the then-senator’s office. On CNN, Sessions’ said that, “Those remarks are unbelievable to me and false.” When asked whether he would recuse himself from investigating Russian interference in the presidential elections, Sessions said, “I have said that whenever it’s appropriate, I will recuse myself.” Sen. Nancy Pelosi, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, accused Sessions of lying under oath and demanded his resignation. MORE HERE less

MARCH 2, 2017: Sessions calls Russian contact claims ‘false’U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired back Thursday, March 2, calling reports that he spoke with Russia’s ambassador to the United States … more

Photo: Susan Walsh, STF

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MARCH 1, 2017: President delays signing new travel banPresident Trump has decided to delay signing a modified travel ban following his well-received address to a joint session of Congress, senior administration officials told multiple media outlets. Trump was expected to sign the reworked executive order banning some travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries on Wednesday March 1, but delayed the move so he can continue riding to wave of favorable coverage, following the speech. The address to congress was softer and more unifying than Trump’s previous speeches that often had a bleak vision of America. An administration official told CNN that the White House delayed signing the executive order so it would “have its own moment.” MORE HERE less

MARCH 1, 2017: President delays signing new travel banPresident Trump has decided to delay signing a modified travel ban following his well-received address to a joint session of Congress, senior administration … more

Photo: Aude Guerrucci, Bloomberg

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FEB. 28, 2017: President rolls back Obama-era gun regulationsPresident Trump signed a bill Tuesday, Feb. 28 repealing an Obama-era regulation that made it more difficult for people with certain mental health issues, including schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, to purchase guns. The bill wipes out a rule that mandated the Social Security Administration to report people who receive disability benefits for mental-health conditions to the FBI’s background check system — which would ultimately determine whether someone was eligible to buy a gun. The regulation would have added 75,000 people who get Social Security benefits for mental health issues to the national background check database. MORE HERE less

FEB. 28, 2017: President rolls back Obama-era gun regulationsPresident Trump signed a bill Tuesday, Feb. 28 repealing an Obama-era regulation that made it more difficult for people with certain mental health … more

Photo: Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press

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FEB. 28, 2017: Executive order takes aim at Obama-era water rulePresident Trump signed an executive order Tuesday, Feb. 28 requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to review federal water regulations aimed to protect 60 percent of the bodies of water in the United States from pollution, including wetlands and rivers. “I am directing the EPA to take action paving the way for the elimination of this very destructive and horrible rule,” Trump said as he signed the executive order. MORE HERE less

FEB. 28, 2017: Executive order takes aim at Obama-era water rulePresident Trump signed an executive order Tuesday, Feb. 28 requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to review federal water regulations … more

Photo: Zach Gibson

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FEB. 28, 2017: Historically Black Colleges now White House priorityPresident Trump signed an executive order Tuesday, Feb. 28 that intends to bolster the federal government’s support for the nation’s historically black colleges and universities. The order will transfer Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from the Department of Education to the White House for direct oversight. “This executive order will make HBCUs a priority in the White house, an absolute priority,” Trump said Tuesday. “A lot of people are going to be angry that they are not a priority, but that’s OK.” The move intends to pave the way for partnerships with government agencies and allows for the leaders of HBCUs to serve as strategic partners under Trump’s “urban agenda” to create jobs and make inner cities safer. MORE HERE less

FEB. 28, 2017: Historically Black Colleges now White House priorityPresident Trump signed an executive order Tuesday, Feb. 28 that intends to bolster the federal government’s support for the nation’s … more

Photo: Pool, Getty Images

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FEB. 24, 2017: Newsom calls Spicer’s marijuana take ‘grossly uninformed’The day after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer warned states of “greater enforcement” of federal laws against marijuana use by President Trump’s Justice Department, Lt. Gavin Newsom called Spicer’s comments “grossly uninformed.” In a letter to Trump on Friday, Feb. 24, Newsom urged the president to allow California and the seven other states and Washington, D.C., that have legalized recreational marijuana to enforce their own laws governing its use. “The government must not strip the legal and publicly supported industry of its business, and hand it back to drug cartels and criminals,” Newsom wrote. MORE HERE less

FEB. 24, 2017: Newsom calls Spicer’s marijuana take ‘grossly uninformed’The day after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer warned states of “greater enforcement” of federal laws against marijuana … more

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

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FEB. 24, 2017: Some news outlets blocked from White House ‘gaggle’Journalists from a number of news outlets were blocked from entering a White House press briefing on Friday, Feb. 24 — just hours after President Trump’s railed against “fake news” and reiterated charges that the media are the “enemy of the people” during a speech to the Conservative Political Action Committee. Reporters from the New York Times, CNN, Buzzfeed and Los Angeles Times were among the outlets that were banned from the off-camera gaggle with Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary. MORE HERE less

FEB. 24, 2017: Some news outlets blocked from White House ‘gaggle’Journalists from a number of news outlets were blocked from entering a White House press briefing on Friday, Feb. 24 — just hours after … more

Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein, Getty Images

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FEB. 24, 2017: Executive order takes aim at “excessive” regulationsPresident Trump signed an executive order on Friday, Feb. 24 that aims to curb “excessive” regulations that he says are driving businesses and jobs out of the country. This order will direct each federal agency to establish a regulatory reform task force, which will recommend which regulations can be simplified or eliminated. MORE HERE less

FEB. 24, 2017: Executive order takes aim at “excessive” regulationsPresident Trump signed an executive order on Friday, Feb. 24 that aims to curb “excessive” regulations that he says are driving … more

Photo: DOUG MILLS, NYT

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FEB. 24, 2017: President slams FBI over leaked reports to mediaPresident Trump bashed the FBI’s inability to “stop the national security leakers” on Friday, Feb. 24 — a day after a report emerged that the bureau rejected a White House request to publicly “knock down” claims that Trump’s advisers were in frequent contact with Russian intelligence officials during the presidential campaign. “The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security ‘leakers’ that have permeated our government for a long time. They can’t even find the leakers within the FBI itself. Classified information is being given to media that could have a devastating effect on U.S. FIND NOW,” Trump tweeted. MORE HERE less

FEB. 24, 2017: President slams FBI over leaked reports to mediaPresident Trump bashed the FBI’s inability to “stop the national security leakers” on Friday, Feb. 24 — a day after a report emerged that … more

FEB. 23, 2017: Press secretary warns of more pot enforcementWhite House press secretary Sean Spicer said that states should expect to see “greater enforcement” of federal laws against marijuana use under the Trump administration’s Justice Department. Addressing reporters at a press conference Thursday, Feb. 23, Spicer suggested that the administration and Attorney General Jeff Sessions would be taking a hard look at states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Those include California, where sales of marijuana for recreational use are set to start next year. MORE HERE less

FEB. 23, 2017: Press secretary warns of more pot enforcementWhite House press secretary Sean Spicer said that states should expect to see “greater enforcement” of federal laws against marijuana use under … more

FEB. 22, 2017: Obama policy on transgender school bathrooms repealedThe Trump administration reversed an Obama-era federal policy Wednesday, Feb. 22 that said transgender students at public schools should be allowed to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their gender identity. The new directive leaves it up to individual states and school districts to decide whether federal sex discrimination law applies to gender identity. California passed a law in 2013 allowing public school students to use the restroom and participate in the sports of their choice. Several school districts, including San Francisco Unified, have had such policies for years. MORE HERE less

FEB. 22, 2017: Obama policy on transgender school bathrooms repealedThe Trump administration reversed an Obama-era federal policy Wednesday, Feb. 22 that said transgender students at public schools should be … more

Photo: Sara D. Davis /Getty Images

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FEB. 21, 2017: Anne Frank Center says Trump “too little, too late”Shortly after President Trump denounced the rise of anti-Semitic incidents sweeping the nation on Tuesday, Feb. 21, the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect dismissed the overture as “too little, too late.” In a statement, Steven Goldstein, the organization’s executive director, said Trump’s statement Tuesday morning at the National Museum of African America History and Culture was a “Band-Aid on the cancer of Antisemitism that has infected his own Administration.” MORE HERE less

The Department of Homeland Security issued two memos Tuesday, Feb. 21 outlining how it will implement President Trump’s executive orders on illegal immigration — calling on federal agents to remove from the country undocumented immigrants convicted of any criminal offense. The memos also direct the Department of Homeland Security to immediately hire 5,000 new Border Patrol agents and 500 air and marine officers. They direct the agency to create more detention facilities for undocumented immigrants swept up in raids, and to establish an office under the umbrella of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to help families of those killed by undocumented immigrants. MORE HERE

FEB. 21, 2017: President condemns wave of anti-Semitic threatsPresident Trump spoke out Tuesday, Feb. 21 against a wave of threats against Jewish community centers around the country. During a speech at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Trump called the threats “a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil.” His comments come after the latest wave of bomb threats at Jewish community centers across the country on Monday, Feb. 20 and major vandalism over the previous weekend at a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis. Eleven community centers across the United States received bomb threats on Monday. Those threats come after dozens of similar bomb threats in January 2017, including at two Bay Area locations. MORE HERE less

FEB. 21, 2017: President condemns wave of anti-Semitic threatsPresident Trump spoke out Tuesday, Feb. 21 against a wave of threats against Jewish community centers around the country. During a speech at the … more

Photo: AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images / /

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FEB. 17, 2017: Report that Guard could be used to round up immigrants is ‘false’The White House on Friday, Feb. 17 labeled as “false” a memo reportedly drafted by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly that indicated the Trump administration was considering using up to 100,000 National Guard troops to round up undocumented immigrants. White House press secretary Sean Spicer issued a statement saying the report was “100 percent not true.” “It is false,” Spicer told reporters on Air Force One. “It is irresponsible to be saying this.” He added that the memo, obtained by the Associated Press, “is not a White House document.” However, a unidentified Homeland Security official told Cox Media Group that the memo was a “very early, pre-decisional draft.” The official added that the suggestion was “never seriously considered by the department.” MORE HERE less

FEB. 17, 2017: Report that Guard could be used to round up immigrants is ‘false’The White House on Friday, Feb. 17 labeled as “false” a memo reportedly drafted by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly … more

Photo: Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

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FEB. 16, 2017: President’s PAC emails ‘media accountability survey’In the first solo press conference of his presidency, President Trump said Thursday, Feb. 16 that the”media doesn’t get it” and repeatedly said the press was “out of control.” Shortly after he finished speaking at the White House, the Trump Make American Great Again Committee blasted out an email asking its followers to take a “Mainstream Media Accountability Survey.” The committee is a joint fundraising venture made up of Trump’s presidential campaign PAC, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and the Republican National Committee. It was composed to help fund Trump’s general election campaign, and it now acts as a mouthpiece for the administration. The survey contains 25 multiple-choice questions, leading off with, “Do you believe that the mainstream media has reported unfairly on our movement?” MORE HERE less

FEB. 16, 2017: President’s PAC emails ‘media accountability survey’In the first solo press conference of his presidency, President Trump said Thursday, Feb. 16 that the”media doesn’t get it” and … more

Photo: Evan Vucci, Associated Press

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FEB. 16, 2017: Justice Department drops travel ban, plans new onePresident Trump’s administration withdrew its legal defense Thursday, Feb. 16 of its ban on travel to the United States and said the president would submit a new order to meet the objections of a federal appeals court. The executive order banning anyone from seven predominantly Muslim nations from entering the U.S. was signed by Trump on Jan. 27 and was blocked a week later by a federal judge in Seattle, whose ruling was left intact Feb.9 by a panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Both courts said the order, issued without warning, likely violated the constitutional rights of immigrants and refugees. MORE HERE less

FEB. 16, 2017: Justice Department drops travel ban, plans new onePresident Trump’s administration withdrew its legal defense Thursday, Feb. 16 of its ban on travel to the United States and said the president … more

Photo: AL DRAGO/NYT

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FEB. 16, 2017: Alexander Acosta, Florida dean, nominated for LaborPresident Trump nominated Alexander Acosta, a former U.S. attorney in Miami and dean of Florida International University’s College of Law, as labor secretary on Thursday, Feb. 16. Acosta, a son of Cuban immigrants, was South Florida’s top federal prosecutor during the second term of the Bush administration, according to the Miami Herald. Acosta has more government experience than many of Trump’s other nominees. He is a member of the National Labor Relations Board and is a former clerk for Justice Samuel Alito (he has a degree from Harvard Law school). He has been through the Senate confirmation process three times. MORE HERE less

FEB. 16, 2017: Alexander Acosta, Florida dean, nominated for LaborPresident Trump nominated Alexander Acosta, a former U.S. attorney in Miami and dean of Florida International University’s College of Law, as … more

Photo: Joe Raedle

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FEB. 16, 2017: President slams ‘low-life leakers’President Trump ranted on Twitter Thursday, Feb. 16, calling anyone disclosing classified information to news organizations “low-life leakers” and accusing Democrats of concocting stories about Russia to explain their loss in the presidential election. Alternating between calling recent controversies consuming his administration “fake news” and “leaks,” the president shared a storm of tweets. “Leaking, and even illegal classified leaking, has been a big problem in Washington for years. Failing @nytimes (and others) must apologize!” Trump tweeted. MORE HERE less

FEB. 15, 2017: Pick for labor secretary withdraws nominationPresident Trump’s pick for labor secretary withdrew his nomination Wednesday, Feb. 15, one day before his confirmation hearing was scheduled to begin, after a number of GOP senators expressed doubts about supporting him. Andrew Puzder, the CEO of CKE Restaurants — the parent company to Carl’s Jr., La Salsa, Hardee’s and other popular fast-food chains — came under fire after admitting to hiring an undocumented housekeeper and allegations that he physically abused his former wife. MORE HERE less

FEB. 15, 2017: Pick for labor secretary withdraws nominationPresident Trump’s pick for labor secretary withdrew his nomination Wednesday, Feb. 15, one day before his confirmation hearing was scheduled to begin, … more

Photo: Al Seib /Los Angeles Times /TNS

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FEB. 15, 2017 President says Russian phone call leaks ‘un-American’In a series of tweets and statements on Wednesday, Feb. 15, President Trump railed about the “real scandal,” appearing to accuse U.S. intelligence officials of leaking information about intercepted phone calls between his aides — including his onetime campaign manager — and Russian operatives. Trump’s Twitter storm came after the New York Times reported that the intercepted communications showed that his campaign advisers were in repeated contact with Russian intelligence officials during his presidential campaign. Those conversations came as Russians were attempting to disrupt the U.S. presidential election by hacking into the Democratic National Committee, according to U.S. intelligence officials. MORE HERE less

FEB. 15, 2017 President says Russian phone call leaks ‘un-American’In a series of tweets and statements on Wednesday, Feb. 15, President Trump railed about the “real scandal,” appearing to accuse U.S. … more

Photo: Mandel Ngan/Agence France-Presse

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FEB. 14, 2017: Another win for big oilAmerican oil and mining companies won’t need to report payments to foreign governments after President Trump signed legislation wiping out a regulation staunchly opposed by the petroleum industry. The legislation, House Joint Resolution 41, eliminated a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission June regulation that would have forced extractive industries to report payments they make to governments abroad for access to natural resources. Supporters saw the new rule as a key way to fight corruption in resource-rich countries. The rule was developed under the sweeping 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reforms. MORE HERE less

FEB. 14, 2017: Another win for big oilAmerican oil and mining companies won’t need to report payments to foreign governments after President Trump signed legislation wiping out a regulation staunchly opposed … more

The White House addressed the emergency at Lake Oroville for the first time since nearly 200,000 people were ordered to evacuate on Feb. 12, 2017. Press Secretary Sean Spicer, during his daily press briefing, said “the president is keeping a close eye on the Oroville Dam situation.” Spicer also said the disaster is a “text book example” on why the government needs to pursue a major infrastructure package in Congress. On Feb. 13, Gov. Jerry Brown asked the Trump administration for a federal disaster declaration. An estimated 188,000 people remain under evacuation orders in Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties as officials work to secure the emergency spillway near the Oroville Dam. MORE HERE

Addressing the public for the first time since National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned, President Trump said the controversy wasn’t “the real story.” Instead of focusing on the revelation that Flynn discussed US sanctions against Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States and then misled Vice President Mike Pence, Trump suggested attention should instead be paid to leaks coming out of Washington. “The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?” Trump tweeted. MORE HERE

FEB. 9, 2017: Trump signs executive orders on crime and safetyPresident Trump signed three executive orders Thursday afternoon focused on crime reduction, public safety and violence toward cops. Only one of the orders was posted on the White House website immediately after the signing. The order has two main points: It commits the government to “enforcing the law and developing policies that comprehensively address illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and violent crime,” and also commissions the Department of Justice to take the lead on federal actions to support nationwide law enforcement efforts on the local and state level. MORE HERE less

FEB. 9, 2017: Trump signs executive orders on crime and safetyPresident Trump signed three executive orders Thursday afternoon focused on crime reduction, public safety and violence toward cops. Only one of … more

Photo: Aude Guerrucci

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FEB. 9, 2017: Kellyanne Conway tells people to ‘go buy Ivanka’s stuff’White House counselor Kellyanne Conway gave Ivanka Trump’s fashion line a “free commercial” on national television from a West Wing briefing room, encouraging viewers to buy from Ivanka Trump’s online fashion line. In response to Nordstrom’s decision to drop the first daughter’s clothing line, Conway said on Fox & Friends, “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff. I hate shopping, but I’m going to get some myself today. It’s a wonderful line. I own some of it. I’m going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it everybody. You can find it online.” Conway was put through counseling after her comments. MORE HERE less

FEB. 9, 2017: Kellyanne Conway tells people to ‘go buy Ivanka’s stuff’White House counselor Kellyanne Conway gave Ivanka Trump’s fashion line a “free commercial” on national television from a West … more

Photo: Charles Krupa, Associated Press

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FEB. 8, 2017: Steph Curry has witty response to Under Armour CEO’s pro-Trump commentGolden State Warriors star Stephen Curry shot back on Feb. 8 at praise heaped on President Trump by Under Armour boss Kevin Plank. Plank, the Under Armour CEO, said in an interview with CNBC’s “Fast Halftime Report” on Tuesday that “to have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country. People can really grab that opportunity.” Curry, who has a sponsorship deal with Under Armour, said in an interview with the San Jose Mercury News that he was surprised at Plank’s comments. “I agree with that description,” Curry said, “if you remove the ‘et’ from asset.” MORE HERE less

FEB. 8, 2017: Steph Curry has witty response to Under Armour CEO’s pro-Trump commentGolden State Warriors star Stephen Curry shot back on Feb. 8 at praise heaped on President Trump by Under Armour boss Kevin … more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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FEB. 8, 2017: Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch calls the president’s tweets ‘demoralizing’ and ‘disheartening’Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch called President Trump’s tweets criticizing the federal judiciary “demoralizing” and “disheartening” during a Feb. 8 meeting with Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, CNN reported. Trump called US District Judge James Robart of Seattle a “so-called judge” when he suspended the president’s executive order banning travelers and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries. MORE HERE less

There was no ruling Feb. 8 on whether to reinstate President Trump’s ban on travel to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard arguments by telephone Tuesday, said at midday that no decision would be issued by the end of the day. MORE HERE less

FEB. 8, 2017: No ruling from 9th Circuit Court on travel ban

There was no ruling Feb. 8 on whether to reinstate President Trump’s ban on travel to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim countries. … more

Photo: Photos By Alex Clausen, US Court Of Appeals Office Of Circuit Executive

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich and President Trump announced that the company will invest $7 billion to complete an existing factory space in Arizona that has been idle for the past few years. The Chandler, Ariz. manufacturing plant, where Arizona has long had manufacturing operations, will be used to make computer chips. In a statement, Intel said the opening of the factory will lead to 3,000 “high-tech, high-wage jobs” and will create more than 10,000 long-term jobs in Arizona. MORE HERE less

The president leaned on the judges of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in San Francisco, anticipating they will uphold a ruling against his executive order banning travel to the United States by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. “If these judges wanted to – in my opinion – help the court in terms of respect for the court, they’d do what they should be doing. I mean, It’s so sad,” Trump said at a meeting with the National Sheriffs’ Association. MORE HERE

FEB. 3, 2017: 2 Bay Area college students sue over travel banA UC Berkeley student and a Stanford student, both Muslims, joined forces and filed a lawsuit against President Trump over his executive order banning travelers entry to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim counties. The suit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, alleges that Trump’s executive order, which affects even those with valid visas, is an “unconstitutional and discriminatory ban” against Muslims. In their suit, filed on their behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, Stanford student Hadil Al-Mowafak, a national of Yemen, said Trump’s order prevents her from returning to the United States to continue her studies if she goes to Yemen to visit her husband, as she had planned. MORE HERE less

FEB. 3, 2017: 2 Bay Area college students sue over travel banA UC Berkeley student and a Stanford student, both Muslims, joined forces and filed a lawsuit against President Trump over his executive order … more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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FEB. 3, 2017: Tech companies oppose travel banThe country’s tech giants — including Bay Area bigs Google, Facebook, Apple and Uber — joined forces in a letter penned to President Trump opposing his travel ban on seven majority-Muslim countries. A draft of the letter obtained by the website Recode expressed concerns to Trump that his executive order signed last week “will affect many visa holders who work hard here in the United States and contribute to our countries success.” The letter also states that, “As entrepreneurs and business leaders, our ability to grow our companies and create jobs depends on the contributions of immigrants from all backgrounds.” MORE HERE less

FEB. 2, 2017: Falwell selected for education deregulation task forcePresident Trump has chosen a leader for a new federal task force he is creating to deregulate the nation’s colleges and universities: Jerry Falwell Jr., president of a Christian university in Virginia, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Falwell, 54, son of the late conservative televangelist and Moral Majority founder Jerry Falwell, heads Liberty University, a religious school founded by his father. In 2009, the school barred students from forming a College Democratic Club because the Democratic Party platform supports abortion and gay rights. MORE HERE less

FEB. 2, 2017: Falwell selected for education deregulation task forcePresident Trump has chosen a leader for a new federal task force he is creating to deregulate the nation’s colleges and universities: Jerry … more

San Francisco’s Democratic Assemblyman David Chiu invited immigration advocates to tell the public personal stories about the lives of tenants who are in the country illegally. “Tenants who are undocumented know their landlords have the power to destroy their lives with a single phone call to ICE,” the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, said Chiu’s announcement of the event. MORE HERE

FEB. 2, 2017: Protest at UC Berkeley prompts funding threatPresident Trump threatened to eliminate federal funds from UC Berkeley, prompting an outcry from city and university officials, the morning after police shut down an event featuring the right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos when destructive demonstrations erupted at the campus. “If UC Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view – NO FEDERAL FUNDS?” the president tweeted. UC Berkeley received $370 million in federal grants from 2014 to 2015. The federal dollars went toward funding multiyear research projects and other expenditures, according to the university’s website. MORE HERE less

FEB. 2, 2017: Protest at UC Berkeley prompts funding threatPresident Trump threatened to eliminate federal funds from UC Berkeley, prompting an outcry from city and university officials, the morning after … more

FEB. 2, 2017: Rep. Lee wants Bannon booted from the National Security CouncilOakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee wants Stephen Bannon, the White House chief strategist, booted from his permanent position on the National Security Council, an unprecedented appointment by President Trump. “By placing Steve Bannon – a man who has promoted the alt-right and white nationalism – at the center of our nation’s most senior diplomatic and intelligence council, President Trump has placed our national security in grave danger,” Lee said in a letter addressed to Trump. “There is no place for such inexperience and bigotry at the center of America’s national security apparatus.” MORE HERE less

FEB. 2, 2017: Rep. Lee wants Bannon booted from the National Security CouncilOakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee wants Stephen Bannon, the White House chief strategist, booted from his permanent position on the … more

Photo: Paul Morigi, Getty Images For The Elizabeth T

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FEB. 2, 2017: Peter Thiel confidant appointed to NSC staff

Kevin Harrington, a longtime associate of Trump adviser Peter Thiel, has been appointed to a senior staff position at the National Security Council, the White House announced. Harrington, who was previously managing director and head of research for Thiel Macro, a hedge fund, will be deputy assistant to the president for strategic planning. While President Trump has a fondness for reality television, Harrington should not be confused with the similarly named investor who has appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” MORE HERE

President Trump kicked off a National Prayer Breakfast by asking everyone to pray for former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, saying “The Celebrity Apprentice” host has suffered lower ratings since replacing him on the reality TV show. The “Terminator” star quickly shot back by suggesting that he and Trump switch jobs “so people can finally sleep comfortably again.” Trump began his speech at the annual Washington D.C. religious event by prioritizing prayer for Schwarzenegger, who took over the NBC reality competition show after Trump, who is still an executive producer on the program, did 186 episodes. MORE HERE less

FEB. 2, 2017: President trashes Schwarzenegger’s TV ratings

President Trump kicked off a National Prayer Breakfast by asking everyone to pray for former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, saying … more

Photo: Jordan Strauss, Associated Press

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FEB. 1, 2017: California Senators vote against Tillerson confirmationFormer Exxon Mobil chief executive Rex Tillerson has been confirmed as Secretary of State by a 56-43 vote, with both of California’s senators opposing the move. Shortly after the confirmation, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., tweeted that she voted against Tillerson. Tillerson has no formal diplomatic experience, and was seen as a widely controversial pick for the position. “I voted against Rex Tillerson’s nomination. We need a Secretary of State who will put America’s national security first,” she wrote. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., also voted against his confirmation, according to a spokesman. She had strongly opposed Tillerson’s nomination, saying Exxon has a history of “undermining American policy.” MORE HERE less

FEB. 1, 2017: California Senators vote against Tillerson confirmationFormer Exxon Mobil chief executive Rex Tillerson has been confirmed as Secretary of State by a 56-43 vote, with both of California’s … more

Photo: Cliff Owen, Associated Press

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FEB. 1: 2017: California lawmakers to confer with Planned Parenthood

California Democratic senators met with Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards and former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder Jr. during an annual policy retreat in Sacramento as lawmakers map out strategies to resist policies pushed by President Trump and his administration. Richards spoke to Democratic senators about how to preserve access to health care nationwide at a time when congressional Republicans are working to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal the Affordable Care Act. MORE HERE less

FEB. 1: 2017: California lawmakers to confer with Planned Parenthood

California Democratic senators met with Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards and former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder Jr. during an … more

Photo: Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press

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FEB. 1: 2017: Speier nominates Sally Yates for courage award

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, nominated Sally Yates for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award the day after President Trump fired her as acting Attorney General. Yates was canned after she refused to defend Trump’s executive order temporarily banning citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and all refugees from entering the United States. MORE HERE less

FEB. 1: 2017: Speier nominates Sally Yates for courage award

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, nominated Sally Yates for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award the day after President Trump fired her as … more

Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press

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FEB. 1: 2017: Travel ban? Depends on what the meaning of ‘ban’ isPresident Trump rolled back some of terms of his quickly written order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries — including banning residents with green cards. After calling the order a ban for several days, both Trump and White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Tuesday began insisting the order was actually not a ban. Trump seems to have abandoned what had essentially turned into a semantic dispute. “Everybody is arguing whether or not it is a BAN,” Trump tweeted. “Call it what you want, it is about keeping bad people (with bad intentions) out of the country!” MORE HERE less

FEB. 1: 2017: Travel ban? Depends on what the meaning of ‘ban’ isPresident Trump rolled back some of terms of his quickly written order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries — including … more

Photo: Evan Vucci, STF

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FEB. 1, 2017: Trump praises ‘amazing job’ by Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass, who has been dead for 121 years, is an “example of someone who’s done an amazing job,” according to comments by President Trump. It was not immediately known if Trump believed that Douglass, the great 19th century abolitionist, was still alive. But several people listening to the president’s comment thought so. In rambling remarks during a ceremony in Washington to kick off Black History Month, Trump said: “I am very proud now that we have a museum on the National Mall where people can learn about Reverend King, so many other things, Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is getting recognized more and more, I notice. Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and millions more black Americans who made America what it is today. Big impact.” MORE HERE less

FEB. 1, 2017: Trump praises ‘amazing job’ by Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass, who has been dead for 121 years, is an “example of someone who’s done an amazing job,” according to comments by … more

Photo: File Photo, ST

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The White House is lit in blue to honor police officers killed in the line of duty on Monday, May 15, 2017, in Washington.

The White House is lit in blue to honor police officers killed in the line of duty on Monday, May 15, 2017, in Washington.

Photo: Susan Walsh, AP

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The Latest: German lawmaker questions Trump as security risk

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the report that President Donald Trump shared classified information with Russian officials (all times EDT):

8:25 a.m.

A senior German lawmaker has expressed concern about reports that President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information about the Islamic State group to Russian officials.

Burkhard Lischka said in a statement to The Associated Press that “if it proves to be true that the American president passed on internal intelligence matters that would be highly worrying.”

Lischka, who sits on the German parliament’s intelligence oversight committee, noted that Trump has access to “exclusive and highly sensitive information including in the area of combating terrorism.”

The Social Democratic Party lawmaker said that if the U.S. president “passes this information to other governments at will, then Trump becomes a security risk for the entire western world.”

President Trump reportedly revealed highly classified information about ISIS to Russian foreign minister during their meeting last week. Trump disclosed details about a plot to use laptop computers in terror attacks to Sergei Lavrov. The information was believed to be provided to Trump by an American ally through an intelligence sharing arrangement. The Washington Post said the intelligence partner did not give permission for the information to be shared with Russia.

Media: Wibbitz

Germany is heavily dependent on U.S. intelligence.

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8:25 a.m.

The Kremlin has dismissed reports that Donald Trump shared classified information with Russian officials last week as “complete nonsense.”

The Washington Post‘s report on Monday claimed that the revelation made by Trump during his meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov put a source of intelligence on the Islamic State at risk.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday dismissed the reports as “yet more nonsense” and said that Moscow doesn’t “want to have to do anything with it,” adding that “there is nothing to confirm or deny.”

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7:25 a.m.

President Donald Trump is using Twitter to defend his sharing of information with the Russians.

Trump says he wanted to share with Russia “facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety.” He notes that as president, he has an “absolute right” to do this.

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The Washington Post reported Monday that Trump divulged highly classified “code-word” information that could enable the Russians to trace the source of the intelligence.

Trump added a line in his tweet suggesting why he did it: “Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.”

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6:40 a.m.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokesman has denied reports that President Donald Trump revealed classified information to senior officials during the Russian minister’s visit to the Oval Office last week.

The Washington Post reported on Monday that the revelation put a source of intelligence on the Islamic State at risk.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, on Facebook on Tuesday described the reports as “yet another fake.”

The reports came several days after the White House faced criticism for a possible security breach after it allowed a Russian news service photographer into the Oval Office to snap photos of Trump with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak last week.

—Associated Press reporter Paisley Dodds in London.

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4:30 a.m.

Jordan says King Abdullah II is to speak by phone Tuesday with President Donald Trump.

The Royal Court says arrangements for the call were made last week.

The conversation will take place amid a report by The Washington Post that Trump revealed highly classified information to senior Russian officials at a meeting last week, putting a source of intelligence about the Islamic State extremist group at risk.

Jordan is a key ally in the U.S.-led international military coalition against Islamic State, which controls territory in neighboring Syria and Iraq.

The Post, citing current and former U.S. officials, says Trump shared details about an Islamic State terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak.

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3:30 a.m.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull won’t comment on a Washington Post report that President Donald Trump revealed classified information to Russian officials, or say whether the report will affect Australia’s intelligence-sharing agreement with the U.S.

Australia is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing program with the U.S., Canada, Britain and New Zealand.

Turnbull declined to comment specifically on the report, but said during an interview Tuesday with Adelaide radio station 5AA that he is confident in the Australia-U.S. alliance. Turnbull called it “the bedrock of our national security.”

New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee said in a statement that the report was rejected by senior U.S. officials. Brownlee said a resolution to the situation in Syria requires a concerted effort from the U.S. and Russia. Brownlee said he hopes the meeting between Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov “is a step towards that.”

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3:13 a.m.

President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information to senior Russian officials during an Oval Office meeting last week, putting a source of intelligence on the Islamic State at risk, The Washington Post reported.

The disclosure late Monday drew strong condemnation from Democrats and a rare rebuke of Trump from some Republican lawmakers. White House officials denounced the report, saying the president did not disclose intelligence sources or methods to the Russians, though officials did not deny that classified information was disclosed in the May 10 meeting.

H.R. McMaster, Trump’s national security adviser, said: “The president and the foreign minister reviewed a range of common threats to our two countries including threats to civil aviation. At no time, at no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed and the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known.”

Monday night, The Washington Post reported that President Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador during a meeting at the White House. Specifically, he is said to have described the details of an …

Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday he had the right to share information with Russia related to terrorism and other issues, his first public response to the revelation he disclosed classified information at an Oval Office meeting …

President Trump appeared to acknowledge Tuesday that he revealed highly classified information to Russia — a stunning confirmation of a Washington Post story and a move that contradicted his own White House team after it scrambled to deny the report.

A White House television showed a news report on Monday about President Trump’s recent Oval Office meeting with Russian officials. Credit Jonathan Ernst/Reuters. WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump said early Tuesday that he had an “absolute …

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his right to share “facts pertaining to terrorism” and airline safety with Russia, saying in a pair of tweets he has “an absolute right” as president to do so. Trump’s tweets did not say whether …

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